aisa bhi kabhi

abhilasha had just moved into #13 sukh villa. things were still scattered around. 2 of her colleagues who were staying there,were happy to finally get some stay with them to chat and of course to share the rent which was eating a lot of their salary... and what a day she chose to shift. next day was her birthday.

at midnight few more of her friends arrived with a cake and a bunch of candles....

a silent night it was until then. no other sound could be heard. the road was all deserted. the full-moon shining brightly.
the cake was cut, her face decorated with cream and cherry and some of the remaining part distributed amongst themselves...

suddenly akhil stood up. as if he saw a dragon flying by. he started looking around as searching something, something which was not there but he thought was there...
this sudden movement of his made everyone anxious. now he was the focus of every eyesight.

"what is it akhil" asked someone from the group...
without turning back he 'shusshed' at them....

suddenly pin-drop-silence....
howling of the street dog could be heard now (it is more on full-moon and new-moon s)...
more scared were they all now...

akhil was not himself now. the 'always cheerful, making fun of everyone' guy was suddenly demented...

leaving everyone behind akhil went into one of the bed rooms... and then came out of it, then abhilasha 's bed room and came out of it...
one more room left to visit. here he began to quiver. very hesitant to enter...

"akhil what s wrong. you dont look well. are you are shivering. and you had fever this morning. why did you get out of your bed?"

"shhhh. stay where you are. dont come near me."

this drained out the remaining amount of courage the other s had.

slowly akhil entered the last room. kruthi s room.

every second seemed to be a very long time...

then suddenly akhil came out of kruthi s room. he looked as if he was drained of all his strength. collapsed on the bean-bag
"water, water please"

abhilasha ran to him with a bottle of water and offered it to him.

"seriously akhil, you are burning. you need to rest. eat something and then i ll give you some tablets. you have very high temperature."

"kruthi, when did you shift to this place?"

"about 6 months ago. we have been here since them. why are you asking this now akhil?"

"how did you get to know about this place?"

"my uncle s friend stayed here"

"this place is not good. abhilasha, you have not unpacked your luggage na? shift everything out tomorrow. i sense something bad here"

abhilasha: "what are you talking about akhil? you are not well. your temperature is beyond 103. and you know you are not yourself when it goes this high."
akhil : "nothing s wrong with me. if there something wrong then it is with this place. i sense something evil here. some negative power. especially in your room kruthi
if i were you i would move at the first chance. there s something really wrong here"



kruthi: "i have been staying here for such a long time and nothing happened. abhilasha is right akhil. you are seeing things. you need rest."
akhil: "ya i am seeing things which you are not... but i am not seeing things which are not present"
kr : "what do you intend to say ?"
ak : "you guys might laugh at me. but i am very serious. i sense a spirit here. it was here when you cut the cake abhilasha. then went to bed... the ceiling fan of you room kruthi."

"what!!!"

ak : "yes. i guess the person staying here committed suicide by the ceiling fan in you you room... and she frequently visits there."

kruthi: "ya i know that. she was a good lady. do not know why she committed suicide. that s the reason why we are paying so less for this villa"
akhil : "you know what 'sukh villa' translates to in kannada ? it means no happiness' "

abhalisha was petrified now.
kruthi: "abhilasha i am sooo sorry. somehow this thing totally slipped from my mind. we have been staying here for so many months. it s all fine. you dont have to worry. and any ways that incident took place in the room where i stay
and dont tell me that you believe in all this nonsense."

abhilasha almost in tears...


kruthi: " abhilasha please say something. i though you do not believe all these..."

abhilasha hardly able to speak "not that i believe... but still you should have told me kruthi..."

total silence for some time

then suddenly a burst of laughter...

akhil "didnt i tell you kruthi, that abhilasha would be damn scared. you owe me a pizza now"



akhil: "it was all pre planned... kruthi told me that nothing could scare you... and i wanted to prove her wrong"

the very next moment akhil had cake all over him, drenched with coke he was...."


kruthi: "ok guys it bed time now.... good bye everyone. tomorrow is sunday so do not wake me up before 12"

next morning 9 am... akhil at the door, waiting for abhilasha to open it... door opens...

abhilasha: "i am ready... where are we going?"

akhil : "i have plans"
suddenly....
akhil : "abhilasha i sense something bad. somethings wrong here. i can feel it"

abhilasha : "stop it akhil you cant scare me with the same story again..."
akhil :"no i am serious this time. there is something wrong. something really strong. from kruthi s room"

abhilasha: "if you do not stop it, i ll kill you now. come lets leave"
akhil: "i am not joking. is she awake? kruthi?"
abhilasha: "no she had asked us not to disturb her till 12"
akhil: "wake her up. now!!"


no reply from the room

no reply

kruthi not answering calls....

the door breaks open...

kruthi in deep sleep.... so deep in sleep that she never came out of it.